Abstract: A splice system for a conveyor belt system includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the rows of flat wire pickets includes an outer edge link on each end thereof, the outer edge link including a reverse-turn closed edge on an outer side thereof; and wherein movement of at least one of the plurality of rods is restricted by the reverse-turn closed edge on the outer edge link.

Abstract: A splice system for a conveyor belt system includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the rows of flat wire pickets includes an outer edge link on each end thereof, the outer edge link including a reverse-turn closed edge on an outer side thereof; and wherein movement of at least one of the plurality of rods is restricted by the reverse-turn closed edge on the outer edge link.

Abstract: A splice system for a conveyor belt system includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the rows of flat wire pickets includes an outer edge link on each end thereof, the outer edge link including a reverse-turn closed edge on an outer side thereof; and wherein movement of at least one of the plurality of rods is restricted by the reverse-turn closed edge on the outer edge link.

Abstract: A modular eye link conveyor belt and method of assembling a modular eye link conveyor belt includes (a) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one first module row; (b) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one second module row; connecting the first module row and the second module row with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets and thereby forming a first module; repeating steps (a) and (b) and forming a second module; and connecting the first module and the second module with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets.

Abstract: A modular eye link conveyor belt and method of assembling a modular eye link conveyor belt includes (a) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one first module row; (b) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one second module row; connecting the first module row and the second module row with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets and thereby forming a first module; repeating steps (a) and (b) and forming a second module; and connecting the first module and the second module with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets.

Abstract: A splice system for a conveyor belt system includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods; a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the rows of flat wire pickets includes an outer edge link on each end thereof, the outer edge link including a reverse-turn closed edge on an outer side thereof; and wherein movement of at least one of the plurality of rods is restricted by the reverse-turn closed edge on the outer edge link.

Abstract: A modular eye link conveyor belt and method of assembling a modular eye link conveyor belt includes (a) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one first module row; (b) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one second module row; connecting the first module row and the second module row with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets and thereby forming a first module; repeating steps (a) and (b) and forming a second module; and connecting the first module and the second module with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets.

Abstract: A splice link for a conveyor belt includes an outer locking bar including at least one lower tab and an offset portion, an inner connector bar including at least one opening configured to receive the at least one lower tab on the outer locking bar and a front face having an upper tab, the offset portion on the outer locking bar configured to engage the upper tab of the inner connector bar. A further aspect of the disclosure includes a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced tractive rods, a plurality of parallel pairs of edge bar links interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, and a splice link disposed between adjacent pairs of edge bar links.

Abstract: An architectural mesh panel includes a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of adjacent rows of pickets, each of the rows of pickets including at least a plurality of first links, a plurality of second links and a plurality of third links, the plurality of first links have a first spacing, the plurality of second links have a second spacing, and the plurality of third links have a third spacing, wherein each of the rows of pickets includes at least two adjacent first links defining a closely spaced link area, wherein each of the rows of pickets includes at least one second link disposed adjacent the closely spaced link area on each side thereof, wherein the closely spaced link area creates a simulated moiré appearance of a moving stripe to an observer whose viewpoint is continuously changing from one side of the architectural mesh panel towards the other.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt and a sensor assembly integrated in the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of wickets, and a plurality of interconnecting rods about which the wickets hinge. The sensor assembly includes a load-bearing member and a sensor fitted in the load-bearing member. The load-bearing member is coupled to two adjacent rods such that a belt tension is sustained between the adjacent rods. A method of using a conveyor belt system include pinging the sensor assembly using a reader with an antenna positioned on a conveyor frame, collecting a signal from the sensor assembly using the reader, and processing the collected data to determine a history of belt tension and to estimate overall belt elongation.

Abstract: A splice link for a conveyor belt includes an outer locking bar including at least one lower tab and an offset portion, an inner connector bar including at least one opening configured to receive the at least one lower tab on the outer locking bar and a front face having an upper tab, the offset portion on the outer locking bar configured to engage the upper tab of the inner connector bar. A further aspect of the disclosure includes a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced tractive rods, a plurality of parallel pairs of edge bar links interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, and a splice link disposed between adjacent pairs of edge bar links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced hinge rods, each of the plurality of rods including a first end and a second end; a plurality of plate elements including a first side edge and a second side edge, the plurality of plate elements overlying the spaced hinge rods such that the plurality of plate elements define a product support surface; wherein each side edge of the plate elements includes a side edge connector having a bendable retaining tab disposed at the first side edge and the second side edge and two holes for receiving a respective end of one of the hinge rods therein. The bendable retaining tab is configured to bend and thereby cover one of the two holes on the side edge connector, thereby restraining movement of the hinge rod within the respective hole.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system includes a spiral conveyor belt, a spiral conveyor cage structure adjacent the spiral conveyor belt, an RFID sensor integral to the spiral conveyor belt, and a plurality of antennas of a reader, the antennas being attached to the spiral conveyor structure. A method of using the conveyor belt system includes rotationally displacing the spiral conveyor belt relative to a portion of the spiral conveyor cage structure, obtaining and storing first time stamp data when the RFID sensor passes one of the plurality of antennas, and obtaining and storing second time stamp data when the RFID sensor passes another one of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A modular eye link conveyor belt and method of assembling a modular eye link conveyor belt includes (a) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one first module row; (b) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one second module row; connecting the first module row and the second module row with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets and thereby forming a first module; repeating steps (a) and (b) and forming a second module; and connecting the first module and the second module with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets.

Abstract: A conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced hinge rods, each of the plurality of rods including a first end and a second end; a plurality of plate elements including a first side edge and a second side edge, the plurality of plate elements overlying the spaced hinge rods such that the plurality of plate elements define a product support surface; wherein each side edge of the plate elements includes a side edge connector having a bendable retaining tab disposed at the first side edge and the second side edge and two holes for receiving a respective end of one of the hinge rods therein. The bendable retaining tab is configured to bend and thereby cover one of the two holes on the side edge connector, thereby restraining movement of the hinge rod within the respective hole.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt and a sensor assembly integrated in the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of wickets, and a plurality of interconnecting rods about which the wickets hinge. The sensor assembly includes a load-bearing member and a sensor fitted in the load-bearing member. The load-bearing member is coupled to two adjacent rods such that a belt tension is sustained between the adjacent rods. A method of using a conveyor belt system include pinging the sensor assembly using a reader with an antenna positioned on a conveyor frame, collecting a signal from the sensor assembly using the reader, and processing the collected data to determine a history of belt tension and to estimate overall belt elongation.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system includes a spiral conveyor belt, a spiral conveyor cage structure adjacent the spiral conveyor belt, an RFID sensor integral to the spiral conveyor belt, and a plurality of antennas of a reader, the antennas being attached to the spiral conveyor structure. A method of using the conveyor belt system includes rotationally displacing the spiral conveyor belt relative to a portion of the spiral conveyor cage structure, obtaining and storing first time stamp data when the RFID sensor passes one of the plurality of antennas, and obtaining and storing second time stamp data when the RFID sensor passes another one of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: An architectural mesh panel includes a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of adjacent rows of pickets, each of the rows of pickets including at least a plurality of first links, a plurality of second links and a plurality of third links, the plurality of first links have a first spacing, the plurality of second links have a second spacing, and the plurality of third links have a third spacing, wherein each of the rows of pickets includes at least two adjacent first links defining a closely spaced link area, wherein each of the rows of pickets includes at least one second link disposed adjacent the closely spaced link area on each side thereof, wherein the closely spaced link area creates a simulated moiré appearance of a moving stripe to an observer whose viewpoint is continuously changing from one side of the architectural mesh panel towards the other.

Abstract: A flat wire conveyor belt includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods, a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, each picket defining a nominal picket height; each of the rows of pickets defines a plurality of first links and a plurality of second links, and each of the links having a transverse spacing. The conveyor belt includes opposing first and second outer edges and the plurality of first links are disposed on at least one of the first and second outer edges of the flat wire conveyor belt. The first links on at least one of the first and second outer edges having a terminal end with a reduced length less than the nominal picket height.

Abstract: A flat wire conveyor belt includes a plurality of spaced tractive rods, a plurality of rows of flat wire pickets transversely disposed and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, each picket defining a nominal picket height; each of the rows of pickets defines a plurality of first links and a plurality of second links, and each of the links having a transverse spacing. The conveyor belt includes opposing first and second outer edges and the plurality of first links are disposed on at least one of the first and second outer edges of the flat wire conveyor belt. The first links on at least one of the first and second outer edges having a terminal end with a reduced length less than the nominal picket height.